The FBI vs. Comrade Charlie Chaplin

Off topic, but the article reminded me of it: the women's suffrage movement in the UK was effing metal. Many of the suffragettes took up Judo after their meetings and marches were busted up by the cops, so that in the future they would be able to fight back (and indeed they did fight back). Some of them also engaged in acts that would make them terrorist organizations today, cutting telephone lines, burning down buildings (they made sure the buildings were empty first), and in one memorable incident, storming Parliament (one suffragette threw a hatchet at the prime minister; she missed).

The US women's suffrage movement was somewhat less militant, although it did have its radicals. Jeanette Rankin was one such; she was elected Montana's representative in the United States Congress in 1916, and in 1917 she voted against US participation in World War I. She was not reelected in 1918. She was elected again in 1940, and gave a repeat performance. In that particular case, I think entering World War II was the right choice, but I kind of have to admire her doggedness and commitment to her principles. Another member begged her to change her vote to make it unanimous, but she stood firm, saying, "As a woman, I can't be sent to fight, and I refuse to send anyone else."

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